What if I don’t have
any
pre-outs?
This could be the case with an integrated amplifier. What you need now is a second pair of speaker cables
or a biwire set. You connect to the SA via the high-level speaker inputs from your main amp’s speaker terminals,
by ‘stacking’ two pairs of cables from the same speaker terminals (unless your integrated amplifier has two pairs
of terminals per channel). One set of speaker cables will continue to go to your main speakers, the other one will
connect to the SA. Think of this as an unusual biwire connection where the second pair of cables doesn’t connect
to a speaker but the SA instead.
What else?
That’s it. Now you’re all set. Remember to re-check all cable connections to avoid reversed polarity which
would result in bass cancellation. If your main amplifier inverts polarity, be sure to set both phase controls on the
SA to 180. If you purchased the SA at the same time as the Ref³ speakers, set the initial EQ boost to +6dB to
significantly accelerate break-in. As the speakers break in, you will most likely hear that the +6dB EQ setting is far
too high and results in a ponderous bass-heavy presentation. Don’t use it for serious listening but only to make the
woofers work harder while they’re breaking in. Before you play your first track with the SA connected, set the
EQ/boost and two gain controls to 0, then open up the gain controls a little bit, listen, open them a little bit more,
listen again until you get a perfectly seamless and “invisible” level of bass reinforcement. You shouldn’t know that
the SA is in the circuit until you turn it off. Then the lower bass disappears and the speakers sound leaner and
lighter. If the lowest bass below 30Hz seems a bit light or weak, experiment with adding some EQ boost, moving
up from 0 in 1dB steps, listening in-between from your usual seat until you have rock-solid but
even
extension
down to the very lowest notes on your recordings.
1b/ Anthony Gallo Acoustics Nucleus Reference³ sp Reference³ SA xover/amplifier,
multi-channel mode:
Connecting the SA from a preamp/processor or multi-channel receiver
In the setup menu of your pre-pro or surround sound receiver, select “large” for the main speakers. This
sends a full-range ‘uncut’ signal to the Ref³s’ main inputs. Connect the SA’s RCA inputs to the pre/pro or
receiver’s 0.1 subwoofer pre-out. Because all 0.1 LF outputs are mono, you will have to use the included Y-
adaptor on the SA’s end of the interconnect. This will send the LF mono signal to both our Ref³ main speakers for
bass augmentation. Most processors adopt the THX low-pass filter value of 80Hz for the subwoofer output.
This allows you to experiment with two different settings.
1. Set the SA to full-range operation. This removes its own filter from the signal path and puts the processor
in full control.
2. Set the SA to low-pass and experiment with crossover settings
below
80Hz. While this puts two crossovers
in series (pro SA), it allows you to lower the filter frequency below the THX value.
Let your ears decide whether you like option 1 or 2 better. Most movie sound effects don’t occur in the low
but mid bass. The 80Hz setting of option 1 will thus give you an additional boost in the 40-80Hz range where most
the movie mayhem sound effects occur. Option 2 will likely be preferable for music listening because it results in a
more linear and honest frequency response. The remaining SA volume adjustments are identical to the stereo setup
already discussed.
2/ Gallo MPSB/DVs + Reference³ SA xover/amplifier:
Our own MPSB/DV passive outboard subwoofers use the same 10” woofers and enclosures as to what is
built into the Ref
³
speakers. The only difference is how you connect the outboard subwoofers to the SA. You need